Now that he was finally released, it felt like a lifetime had passed.
Although, he still couldn’t understand why he had been suddenly released.
Could it be that Princess Zhaoyang had changed her mind?
Having not eaten for days, Zhou Mingchong’s mind was muddled. When he suddenly saw his sister Zhou Mingyi and Emperor Qianwu appear together in his home, he couldn’t even react.
Zhou Mingyi couldn’t help but throw herself into her brother’s arms.
Zhou Mingchong staggered, nearly falling.
Fortunately, Emperor Qianwu steadied him in time.
Inwardly, the Emperor felt some disdain for Zhou Mingchong’s frail appearance.
Emperor Qianwu had practiced martial arts since childhood. In his early years, when he was still struggling to make his mark, he had trained in the military camps for several years.
Although he had lived in comfort and luxury in recent years, he had never stopped practicing martial arts.
Thus, he had broad shoulders, a narrow waist, and an imposing, vigorous bearing.
But for the sake of the beauty, he did not criticize too harshly.
However, upon reflecting on Zhou Mingchong’s experiences, Emperor Qianwu fell silent.
What kind of temper did Chaoyang have? As her father, Emperor Qianwu actually understood best of all.
She had taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, and since the young man refused her, he must have suffered greatly these past few days in the palace.
Being somewhat frail was understandable; at least he was still alive.
In his early years, Emperor Qianwu had been a fairly wise ruler.
But ever since accepting the fact that he would have no heirs, he had always been exceptionally lenient toward his only daughter, Princess Zhaoyang.
He had worked so hard to attain the throne, yet because he had no descendants, it would eventually fall to outsiders in the future. What was the point of being a wise ruler then?
After his death, who knew what would become of his only daughter?
It was better to give her more favor and privileges while he was still alive.
She was the most noble princess in this world, his only daughter—why shouldn’t she live freely and as she pleased?
Even if she caused the biggest trouble, he, her father, would stand behind her.
Since Chaoyang had taken a liking to Zhou Mingchong, it was his good fortune.
If he refused, he was simply being ungrateful.
What was a mere Tanhua compared to his own precious, royal princess?
But who would have thought that Zhou Mingchong had such a stunningly beautiful sister, and that he himself had slept with her…
Emperor Qianwu sheepishly rubbed his nose.
“Minister Zhou, I will send someone to bring A-Chang into the palace in three days.”
“Today, you and your sister should spend some time together.”
With that, Emperor Qianwu left.
Leaving Zhou Mingchong dumbfounded.
Only after Emperor Qianwu had left did Zhou Mingchong finally react.
His eyes widened, and his handsome features nearly twisted in shock.
Pointing toward the door, he turned to look at his sister. “A-Chang, what… what is going on? What nonsense was His Majesty saying? When did I ever say I would send you into the palace?”
“Was that… really His Majesty just now?”
“Don’t tell me someone is impersonating His Majesty…”
Zhou Mingyi laughed through her tears, her sorrow swept away in an instant.
Her brother, her only brother, the brother she relied on for survival, her living brother—he had truly returned!
She threw herself into her brother’s arms once more.
Holding tightly to his slender waist.
“Brother!”
Zhou Mingchong was momentarily stunned, then his expression gradually softened. Just like when they were children, he gently patted his sister’s back to comfort her.
Zhou Mingyi knew that although her brother had returned now, the crisis was not yet over.
She had to enter the palace.
Princess Zhaoyang was willful and domineering, backed by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and had always done as she pleased.
Only by giving birth to a prince, shaking her position, and stripping her of her support would she be forced to restrain herself.
By that time, she would no longer be Emperor Qianwu’s only child, just an insignificant princess. If she dared to act recklessly, how could the Empress Dowager and Emperor Qianwu endlessly indulge and protect her?
Yet by then, Princess Zhaoyang’s retaliation would be inevitable.
If she sought revenge, she would not fear her counterattack.
She wanted her to fall hard from great heights, to plunge into the mud!
Zhou Mingchong gently steadied his sister’s shoulders. “I’ve worried A-Chang these past few days I’ve been away.”
He had many doubts in his heart.
Given Princess Zhaoyang’s determined stance toward him, how could he have been released?
How did his sister end up with His Majesty?
And why did His Majesty say he would send someone to fetch his sister into the palace in three days?
Zhou Mingchong had a faint suspicion, but he wanted to hear it from his sister’s own lips.
Before he could speak, however, Zhou Mingyi said, “I already belong to His Majesty.”
Zhou Mingchong was stunned.
He had considered countless possibilities, but never this one.
His sister had been exceptionally beautiful since childhood, and as she grew older, her beauty became peerless, capable of toppling cities.
Zhou Mingchong often worried—how could he protect such an outstanding sister?
Thus, he studied frantically, determined to rise above others.
Only then could he protect his sister.
He specially made a veil hat for her, urging her not to go out unless necessary, and to always wear it if she must.
Yet despite protecting her for over a decade, he had ultimately failed to keep her safe.
But he never imagined that his sister would trade her own body for his freedom.
His eyes reddened as he grasped his sister’s wrist. “Come, I’ll take you away!”
Zhou Mingyi’s eyes also reddened, but she gently pushed her brother away.
“Under heaven, all land belongs to the sovereign. Where could we possibly hide?”
Zhou Mingchong froze, his voice trembling. “But… but His Majesty is over a decade older than you, and… and he is incapable of having heirs!”
“If you enter the palace and bear no children… when His Majesty… how will you manage then?”
Zhou Mingchong knew that His Majesty had already seen his sister, and the two had… Entry into the palace was now inevitable.
If His Majesty were a normal man, and his sister could bear a child in the future, she would at least have something to rely on.
But His Majesty was incapable of having heirs. While his sister was young now and could rely on her beauty for favor, what would happen when she grew old, childless? She would surely lead a life of misery.
As the eldest brother, Zhou Mingchong treasured this sister like a precious jewel and naturally did not want her to enter the palace.
He raised his hand and struck his own chest fiercely, letting out a muffled groan as he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Zhou Mingyi was horrified.
“Brother!”
“Brother, what’s wrong?”
Tears streamed down Zhou Mingyi’s face. “It’s all my fault. I was willful and harmed my brother.”
Zhou Mingchong looked at his obedient and sensible sister, his heart aching as if cut by a knife.
He was not a foolish man. Now that the deed was done, he had considered countless possibilities, including taking his sister away and hiding her regardless of the consequences.
But that would surely provoke the emperor’s wrath.
No matter what, the paths of their siblings were fraught with difficulty.
Now, the best course of action was to send his sister into the palace.
Seeing her brother calm down, Zhou Mingyi recounted everything that had happened at Hanshan Temple in detail, omitting the part where she deliberately schemed to replace the other woman, presenting it as an accident.
Zhou Mingchong suddenly deflated.
“It’s all my fault! I’m to blame!”
“If I hadn’t pursued studies or sought an official career, if we siblings had found a quiet place to live, working from sunrise to sunset, we wouldn’t have been dragged into these troubles…”
Zhou Mingyi tightly covered his lips, refusing to let him continue.
“Brother, I won’t allow you to say such things!”
“My elder brother is exceptionally talented, no ordinary man. To become a farmer would be a waste of his gifts!”
“I entered the palace willingly.”
Zhou Mingyi turned her head, not letting her brother see the tears welling in her eyes.
“If I were ordinary-looking, I might have accepted my fate.”
“But with this face, marrying into a common family and settling for a mediocre man—wouldn’t that be like casting a bright pearl into the mud?”
“Though His Majesty is older, he is dignified and distinguished. This unexpected turn of events has, in a way, fulfilled my wishes!”
Her voice was calm, tinged with resolve.
“It is said that the late emperor built Shenmingtai with jade steps and golden lamps.”
“Now that His Majesty has reigned for decades, the nation is prosperous, and the palace must be even more magnificent.”
Her voice softened slightly.
“Gilded bronze tiles, layered eaves, jade towers, and celestial terraces.”
“In such a realm, the very fabric of heaven and earth must be embroidered with threads of gold and silver.”
“With every step, the scenery shifts—carved beams and painted rafters everywhere, winding paths leading to secluded spots, adorned with pearls and jade at every turn.”
“If I could stand among those rare flowers and precious grasses, listen to a song amidst pearls and emeralds, then this life would not be in vain!”
“I, Zhou Mingyi, crave wealth and honor. In this life, I will never marry a mediocre man!”